Summary

Digital photograph of the arrival of a passenger ship bringing English migrants to Australia in1964, at Station Pier, Port Melbourne, showing Betty Barlow and her son John Barlow; part of the Burke Road East Malvern Methodist Church party that met the ship, followed by Mt John Tait, a sponsored English migrant. Betty is wearing a 'Bring Out A Briton Committee' badge. This ship probably belonged to Sitmar Lines. John and OliveTait and their family immigrated on this ship, sponsored by the East Malvern Methodist Church. One of 84 digital photographs relating to the Ward family migration experience including their life in England, their voyage in 1961 to Australia and their settlement in Melbourne. (see MM134454).

Part of a large collection of material relating to the migration and settlement of British migrants to Australia in the 1960s under the 'Bring Out a Briton' Scheme. It documents in particular both the migration experiences of James and Mary Ward and their three children who arrived in Melbourne on the 'TSS Stratheden' from Yorkshire in December 1961; and the Burke Road East Malvern Methodist Church's sponsorship of a number of English families, including the Wards, under the Scheme. The Church's support included temporary accommodation for assisted families in a neighbouring house. The 'Bring Out a Briton' Scheme (1957-1982) was part of a Commonwealth Government initiative which offered subsidised ship fares, accommodation and support to encourage migration from the UK to Australia after World War II.

Description of Content

A woman in coat, hat and gloves and wearing a round lapel badge, descending a ship's gangway, followed by a young boy in a coat, a man carrying a suitcase, and a number of other people, with others watching on from the ship.

Physical Description

Digital photograph.

Significance

The Ward/Barlow Families collection is of national significance in documenting British assisted migration to Australia post-World War II. The collection provides a comprehensive snapshot from the commencement to completion of a British assisted migration experience and illuminates post-war immigration policies and procedures which favoured British immigration into Australia.

The collection of almost 400 items comprises a unique body of documentation with intersections between personal, community and government narratives that explore British post-World War II assisted migration. It includes photographs, personal correspondence, documents and objects offering a rare glimpse into the role of the Australian and British governments, Methodists Church sponsorship and community engagement in assisting and welcoming British immigrants to Australia. Assisted British migration was a constant theme of Australian immigration history until the early 1980s. Government initiatives such as the 'Bring Out A Briton' scheme had an enormous impact on the composition and size of the Australian population, making the Ward/Barlow collection of broad social and political historical significance.

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